He questioned and baited HVCCG on their ability to function properly, saying: “The briefing note [given to councillors by HVCCG] is self-serving.

“It refers to a skeleton service. Is that because patients have had to wait so long they expired?

He said the taxman would only issue a winding-up order if there is a High Court petition from creditors wanting their money back.

“If HVCCG picks an Arthur Daley-type company to run such a service then they have serious questions to answer.

“Once again, when it fails the public always have to pick up the pieces.”

A HVCCG spokesperson said: “Our priority has been to get a safe patient transport service in place so that patients who are eligible for transport are able to get to and from hospital appointments.

“While EEAST works to establish a full service, our initial focus has been on supporting patients that need transport services most, by prioritising appointments for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hospital discharges.

“Clearly we need to look at what lessons need to be learnt, and we will look at this once we are sure that we have a comprehensive and reliable transport service in place and operating smoothly.”